~Alde “Botsoy” Salusad

San Fernando, Bukidnon – Sitio Kiranggol, Barangay Dao, is roughly a 6-hour open-trail climb into the rain forests of San Fernando. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the Department of Education (DepED) and National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), lead the joint site validation of a proposed 3-classroom school building to be constructed through the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP). This is part of the Whole of Nation Initiative intervention for Lumads in El Niño affected areas, particularly in the Province of Bukidnon.

Kiranggol (Kiranggel) means a “place of convergence” where other tribes meet to do trade or festivities, this according to Alde “Botsoy” Salusad, the sitio’s peace keeper and whose family ancestry claims the land. San Fernando, Bukidnon is home to two indigenous tribes the Matigsalugs and Tigwahanons.

The sunset view from the proposed 3-classroom school building site in Sitio Kiranggol, Brgy Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Kiranggol has been reportedly marred by past insurgent influences and gold mining. According to residents, the sitio used to have a lot of residents and mine workers – chaos then escalated which drove out the residents and workers, a few came back to the community.

In a conversation with “Commander Botsoy”, he said that the community that now thrives in Kiranggol has only been around for three years. The young community already boasts of some businesses in the area despite the fact that the sitio is only accessible by trekking through open-mountain-trail – and only by humans. Even horses would have a difficult time traversing the cliffs and the steep peaks. In Kiranggol, there are sari-sari stores, a karinderya, billiard halls, and … karaoke houses. Supplies are brought to the place by “haulers” and usually one hauler can carry about a 50 kilogram load at the very least – and will charge about 500 pesos to a thousand (or more) depending on the load. So expect the high prices of the commodities – to give you an example, a 1.5 liter softdrink would then cost 150 pesos.

The place is powered by electricity generators or dynamos; they switch on lights at 5:00 in the afternoon until 9:00 in the evening, and 4:00 – 6:00 in the morning. The community pays about 10 pesos per day for the community electricity while some residents have their own electricity generators, and for a fee you may charge some of your gadgets – yes, there are certain spots in Kiranggol with mobile network connectivity.

About 2 kilometers before reaching Kiranggol, there is also a spot they fondly call as “signalan” or a place with mobile network signal. There, trekkers may stop and rest, as well as text or call – this is the only place with mobile network connectivity along the 6-hour walk.

As the team trekked the treacherous trails, DSWD 10 Regional Community Infrastructure Specialist Engineer Roel Jumao-as spoke with the team on the possibilities of materials hauling when the actual construction of the school building will start. To haul a bag of cement would actually cost around 500 pesos each. However, Engineer Jumao-as is both hopeful and determined, “kung mabuhat nato ning school-building diri sa Kiranggol, walay rason nga dili nato mabuhat sa ubang dapit (if we can build the school-building here in Kiranggol, there’s no reason we can’t make it in other areas).”

A young hauler arrives at Kiranggol. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Tiring as the trek and climb was, the satisfaction of reaching the sitio was overwhelming – people welcomed us with smiles and a warm meal. There we met the residents who congratulated us on surviving the trek. One even commented “pasensya na sir, walay medalya diri sa finish-line (sorry sir, there is no medal here at the finish-line),” catching my breath – I could only muster a smile.

Good thing they already have a water system in place.

The Dreamers

DSWD – Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP embraced a warm welcome from the Lumad children of Sitio Kiranggol during the site validation for the construction of a three-classroom school building in the sitio. Kiranggol parents and children alike were delighted to know of the project and have high hopes that their community can now have formal education in their sitio.

(from left) Mitze Antian, Grade 3; Nistle Genlisa Mae Baculao, Grade 4; and Roseann Antian, Grade 4, are pupils of Dao Elementary School in Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. The three want to become a doctor, a police officer, and a teacher respectively. The grueling 5-hour mountain trek to their school makes it difficult for them to dream big. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Mitze Antian, Grade 3; Nistle Genlisa Mae Baculao, Grade 4; and Roseann Antian, Grade 4, are pupils of Dao Elementary School in Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. The three dreams of becoming a doctor, a police officer, and a teacher respectively.

The grueling 5-hour mountain trek to their school makes it difficult for them to dream big. However, they are given renewed hope and vigor to pursue their dreams as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP) will construct a three-classroom school building in the sitio. Kiranggol can now have formal education in their sitio.

Mitze says “makabalo na ko magsulat, magbasa, ganahan ko nga naay eskwelahan diri sa duol, para makalampus sa pag-eskwela ug mahimong doktor (I know how to write, read, I like that there will be a school near here so that I can finish my studies and become a doctor).”

Roseann hopes to become a teacher, “para makatabang ko sa pamilya ug sa komunidad (so I can help my family and the community).”

Mira also is delighted with the construction of the school building, “maayo kaayo nga naa nay eskwelahan, nalipay ko, makaayo kini para sa mga kabataan, dili na namo ipadala sa sentro sa Dao ang mga bata para lang makaskwela kai naa na diri (this is good that there will be a school, I’m happy, this will be good for the children, we don’t have to send our children down to Dao just to go to school because we’ll have our own here).”

Botsoy

Having read stories about Commander Alde “Botsoy” Salusad tells of a horrifying past. However, we met a completely different man during our visit – far from the stories we have read.

Conversations with residents gave us another picture of Botsoy, one resident narrates a tale when Botsoy spent an almost sleepless night fixing the leaking water pipes on their water system only to be awaken the next morning seeing the pipes chopped by a drunk. Instead of showing rage – Botsoy asked the culprit to pay a tribute of a dozen chickens, and fixed the pipes again. Perhaps this is the reason why one can’t find liquor being sold in the sitio.

Botsoy narrated to us the origin of the name Kiranggol, he said that it was also known as “Maupya” meaning “good” because the early settlers were good people.

Botsoy addressed his fellow Lumads during the site validation and sitio assembly, “kini na gyud ang katumanan nga atong ipangandoy sa mga bata nga matukuran na gyud tag pormal nga skwelahan diri, gikan sa kalisod nato, pag-NPA nato sa una, pagsurrender nato — mao kini akong pangandoy nga maedukar kita, dili nata magsugot nga dili kita maedukar (this will be the fulfillment that we dream for our children that there will be a formal school here, from our hardships, when we were still with the NPA until our surrender, this is what I dreamed of, that we will be educated, we won’t allow that we won’t be educated).”

Botsoy is thankful for the upcoming construction of the school building, “magpasalamat ta, nangingkamot ang gobyerno nga tukuran gyud tag eskwelahan diri, priority kita (we are thankful, the government endeavored to build us a school here, we are a priority).”

Department of Social Welfare and Development Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Community Infrastructure Specialist Engr. Roel Jumao-as plots out the perimeter for the site where the three-classroom building is to be built in Sitio Kiranggol, Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon, during the actual Site Validation and Risk Assessment on February 25, 2016. This community sub-project is part of the Priority 1 area set for the Whole of Nation Initiative to help the Lumads in El Niño affected areas. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

A little tricky going up this steep open trail, but there were worse along the way. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Just before sunset, a view from the proposed Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP sub-project site in Sitio Kiranggol. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Rain and fog. DSWD team trekking back to Brgy Dao, when heavy rains and fog greeted us, amid the rainforest. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Residents of Sitio Kiranggol participate in the election of Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson. The committee shall take care of the overall management of the sub-project and shall oversee sub-project implementation, monitoring, maintenance and sustainability after project completion. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Matigsalug Datu Mara Bagubay of Sitio Kiranggol, Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon leads the Pamuhat. The Pamuhat was done on site of the three-classroom school building to be constructed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP). (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

The site validation team comprise of DSWD, DepED workers pose with Alde “Botsoy” Salusad, Kiranggol residents and volunteers after the successful site validation. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

A Lumad family of 7 in Sitio Kiranggol. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

Children playing chase before the assembly started. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

A Tribal Leader of Sitio Kiranggol poses for the camera just before the assembly started. (DSWD Photo|Shaun Uy)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR) is now on its preparation stage for the launching of the Latest Database ofthe Profile of the Poor nationwide.

The database is the result of the conducted Second Round Household Assessment done last year.

The National Household Targeting System is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are. The system makes available to national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders a database of poor families as basis in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services.

Consistent with Executive Order 867, the updating of the Listahanan /NHTSPR database of poor families is done every four (4) years thereafter. The first Round Assessment was conducted in 2009 where 338,749 households were identified as poor in the region.

For the Second Round Assessment, a total of 858, 804 households were assessed in Northern Mindanao in which 28% of the total enumerated households were made possible through tablet –aided assessment and 72% were enumerated through pen and paper assessment.

With the launching of the new and updated Listahanan database, it is expected that more Agencies, organizations and stakeholders will engage with the Department through a Memorandum of Agreement for the utilization of the Listahanan data in the implementation of their programs and services.

The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or Listahanan , aims to contribute to the rationalization of the government’s social protection programs that would lead to an equitable distribution of resources and services to the poor.

As part of the capacity building of direct service implementers and frontline service providers, a multi-disciplinary training on handling and managing cases of child pornography was recently conducted in the region.

Participated by service providers composed of LGU social workers, focal persons, psychologists, social workers from centers and institutions catering to cases of child pornography , Police handling Women and Children’s Desk, law enforcers, selected Barangay officials and prosecutors from identified hotspot areas, the training focused on how stakeholders complement, collaborate, and converge relative to the various services in addressing cases of child pornography in their respective areas.

Activities for the four-day training which was funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) includes workshops, inter-active discussions and dialogues and presentation of actual cases.

By the end of the training, participants are expected to have increased knowledge and skills on managing online child abuse and exploitation through the use of existing child online protection mechanisms, strategies and approaches to enhance programs and services for victims of child pornography.

Cagayan de Oro City — Homeless Street Families in Cagayan de Oro will soon engage themselves in livelihood ventures, to gain employment and other livelihood opportunities with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Modified Conditional Cash Transfer specifically designed to provide livelihood assistance to the Indigenous Peoples and Homeless Street Families.

DSWD-PSST Skills Training Orientation to 41 MCCT-Homeless Street Families last March 14, 2016 at the Philippine School of Science and Technology (PSST), Cogon, Cagayan de Oro City

The training aims to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic condition of homeless street families through empowerment and capacity building. This will prepare them in their livelihood ventures, employment and other livelihood opportunities, in the future.

In preparation for their training, the families are given skills training orientation, for them to be aware of the training processes, allowances and duration. “Recipients to this training will be provided with uniforms free of charge and livelihood tool kits during their culmination day”, says Mr. Bendisula, the proprietor of the Philippine School of Science and Technology.

“We are hopeful that through our programs, these homeless street families, will be provided with equal livelihood opportunities and eventually improve their living condition”, says Lexa Lappang, a Community Facilitator for the DSWD.

The skills training will launch following the orientation and will continue up to five (5) weeks.

Cagayan de Oro City — It will be a dream-come-true for John Ericson Roselim, a 13-year old Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) beneficiary from Barangay Santa Ines, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental, some 101.4 kilometer off northeast of this city, who will be graduating valedictorian in his elementary formation.

He will be graduating this March 29, 2016.

Dreaming of becoming a lawyer and at the same time businessman, John Ericson is the second child of of Crisman and Genarlie Roselim among the eight siblings.

According to Airin Jean M. Ariaso, Municipal Link of Talisayan, Misamis Oriental that John Ericson is generous and thoughtful when she conducted home visit to his family.

“He encourages others to fight for their desires and what they believe in, and doing it through God because he believes that nothing great comes easy and with God everything is possible, said Ariaso, adding that the child is motivated by love for learning and succeeding as he strive to become an outstanding pupil.

“He is also a very passionate boy. He has passion for basketball, biking and gardening. He loves to plant flowers and vegetables. He also loves cooking,” claimed Ariaso.

Self-supporting

As additional source for his everyday expenses, he cooks and sells peanut roll, yema, munchkins and other sweets at school.

Despite his age, John Ericson is also opting to become a working student if his parents could not send him to college.

Active in Co-Curricular activities

John Ericson is an active member of the Youth for Christ in his town. Several years ago, he was also involved in the Kids for Christ.

In school, he is the Classroom President, Supreme Pupil Government President, and Federated Supreme Pupil Government Auditor at the Department of Education’s District of Talisayan.

When he was in Grade 1, he was 1st Honorable Mention at Macabalan Elementary School in this city where he was also a member of the Science Club. When he transferred to Sta. Ines Elementary School the following year, he topped in his class.

He has been representing his school countless times at different contest like Quiz Bee where he won 2nd place, Read-a-Thon, MTAP, among others where he always took home the title.

Right now he is involved in helping other youth develop their talents through YFC activities.

The municipal link of Pantawid Pamilya said his parents have contributed a great role towards his achievement.

Despite his father is the sole economic provider of his family, his parents were able to sustain the needs of the family.

Gernalie claimed that she is managing their minimal income to support their everyday needs since they are big family.

She added that proper discipline and assigning household chores to each member of the family were being practiced for them to have a sense of responsibility.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households’ primary of children aged 0-18. It utilizes the conditional cash transfer scheme where the partner-beneficiaries receive their grants provided that they fulfill their co-responsibilities, including sending their children to school, availing of health services, and attending the monthly FDS.

Tribal Leaders from Northern Mindanao gather for the Indigenous Peoples Summit, March 16, Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. The summit opens with the “Panubad-tubad”, a ritual of the Lumads in Mindanao where they kill a chicken and spill its blood on the ground to invoke the presence of ‘Magbabaya’ (Supreme Creator). Present during the ritual are Department of Social Welfare and Development 10 Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos (2nd from right), and NCIP Regional Director Roberto Almonte (right). DSWD’s Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP) will construct a total of 22 classrooms in San Fernando, Bukidnon as a Priority 1 area for the intervention for Lumads in El Niño affected areas. The project is in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) who will provide school teachers for the school buildings, and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples.

Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman speaks to 1,656 participants to the People’s Dialogue in Cagayan de Oro City last March 18, 2016. This is form part of the series of dialogues in the region, involving cabinet secretaries and various sectors / beneficiaries of government programs. The leg of dialogues began from March 17 to 19, 2016, that gathered about 5,000 individuals from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Iligan City. These series of events allow participants to share their success stories brought about by the government programs and an opportunity to raise their concerns to the government agencies. (Photo credits to Jamila M. Taha, DSWD)

(from left) Mitze Antian, Grade 3; Nistle Genlisa Mae Baculao, Grade 4; and Roseann Antian, Grade 4, are pupils of Dao Elementary School in Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. The three want to become a doctor, a police officer, and a teacher respectively. The grueling 5-hour mountain trek to their school makes it difficult for them to dream big. However, they are given renewed hope and vigor to pursue their dreams as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP) will construct a three-classroom school building in the sitio. Kiranggol can now have formal education in their sitio. San Fernando, Bukidnon is a Priority 1 area for the intervention for Lumads in El Niño affected areas. The project is in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) who will provide school teachers for the school buildings, and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples.